A  N 


ORATION 

ON  THE 

SUBLIME  VIRTUES 

O  F 

General  George  Wafymgton, 

Pronounced  at  the  Ox.d  South  Meeting-House  in  Bofton, 

BEFORE 

His  Honor  the  Himtzmnt-CSoKzvnQt,  the  council, 
and  the  Ctoo  JSvmibzg  of  the  iLegtOature 

of  MASSACHUSETTS, 

AT  THEIR  REQUEST, 

On  SATURDAY,  the  8th  of  FEBRUARY,  1800. 

by  FISHER  AMES. 


BOSTON : 

YOUNG  &  MINNS,  szziiTEiiS  to  the  stats. 


2  OS  TON,  FEB.  10,  1800. 

SIR, 

IN  obedience  to  an  OVcler  of  the  Legiflature  of  this  Com- 
monwealth, we  have  the  honor  to  exprcfs  to  you  their  thanks  for  the 
excellent  Oration  you  delivered  on  the  8th  inftant,  commemorating 
the  fublime  virtues  of  General  GEORGE  WASHINGTON,  and  to  dc- 
lire  a  copy  for  the  prefs. 

We  derive  much  fatisfacStion  from  the  execution  of  an  Order, 
which  has  for  its  object,  a  wide  extension  and  permanent  duration  of 
that  gratification  and  improvement  which  were  enjoyed  by  the  liftening 
audience  who  attended  that  performance. 

We  have  the  honor  to  be 

With  high  perfonal  refpedt  and  efteem,  Sir, 
Your  very  humble  fervants, 

SAMUEL  PHILLIPS, 
EDWARD  H.  ROBBINS. 

The  Honorable  FisherAmes. 

 — =^^S^f^W^a-  

GENTLEMEN, 

I  RECEIVE  the  honor  conferred  on  me  by  the  Legiflature 
of  MaJJachufetts  with  a  fenflbility  which  can  be  equalled  only  by  my 
refpeA.  In  fubmitting  the  performance  to  publication,  I  know  that  I 
expofe  its  imperfections.  For  thefe,  numerous  as  they  are,  I  have  no 
excufe  but  my  extreme  want  of  leifure,  during  its  preparatipn.  Can- 
dor will,  I  hope,  extend  that  as  far  as  it  will  apply. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be, 

Gentlemen,  with  perfect  refpect, 

Your  molt  obedient  and  very  humble  fervant, 

FISHER  AMES. 

Htnwable  Samuel  Phillips, 

Edward  H.  Robbins,  Efq. 


AN  ORATION 

ON  THE 

SUBLIME  VIRTUES 


o  r 


It  is  natural  that  the  gratitude  of 
mankind  mould  be  drawn  to  their  benefactors. 
A  number  of  thefe  have  fucceffively  arifen,  who 
were  no  lefs  difdnomi{hed  for  the  elevation  of 
their  virtues,  than  the  luftre  of  their  talents.  Of 
thofe  however  who  were  born,  and  who  acted 
through  life,  as  if  they  were  born,  not  for  them- 
felves,  but  for  their  country  and  the  whole  hu- 
man race,  how  few  alas  !  are  recorded  in  the  long 
annals  of  ages,  and  how  wide  the  intervals  of 
time  and  fpace  that  divide  them.  In  all  this 
dreary  length  of  way,  they  appear  like  five  or  fix 
light  houfes  on  as  many  thoufand  miles  of  coaft  : 
they  gleam  upon  the  furrounding  darknefs,  with 
an  inextinguifhable  fplendor,  like  ftars  fcen 
through  a  mill  ;  but  they  are  feen  like  ftars,  to 
cheer,  to  guide,  and  to  fave.  WASHINGTON 
is  now  added  to  that  fmall  number.    Already  he 


4* 


attracts  curiofity,  like  a  newly  dlfcovered  ftar, 
whofe  benignant  light  will  travel  on  to  the 
world's  and  time's  fartheft  bounds.  Already  his 
name  is  hung  up  by  hiftory  as  confpicuoufly,  as  if 
it  fparkled  in  one  of  the  conftellations  of  the  fky. 

By  commemorating  his  death,  we  are  called  this 
day  to  yield  the  homage  that  is  due  to  virtue  ;  to 
confefs  the  common  debt  of  mankind  as  well  as 
our  own  ;  and  to  pronounce  for  pofterity,  now 
dumb,  that  elogium,  which  they  will  delight  to 
echo  ten  ages  hence,  when  we  are  dumb. 

I  consider  myfelf  not  merely  in  the  midft  of 
the  citizens  of  this  town,  or  even  of  the  State.  In 
idea,  I  gather  round  me  the  nation.  In  the  vaft 
and  venerable  congregation  of  the  patriots  of  all 
countries  and  of  all  enlightened  men,  I  would,  if  I 
could,  raife  my  voice,  and  fpeak  to  mankind  in  a 
ilrain  worthy  of  my  audience,  and  as  elevated  as 
my  fubject.  But  how  mail  I  exprefs  emotions, 
that  are  condemned  to  be  mute,  becaufe  they  are 
unutterable  ?  I  felt,  and  I  was  witnefs,  on  the  day 
when  the  news  of  his  death  reached  us,  to  the 
throes  of  that  grief,  that  faddened  every  counte- 
nance, and  wrung  drops  of  agony  from  the  heart. 
Sorrow  labored  for  utterance,  but  found  none. 
Every  man  looked  round  for  the  confolation  of 
other  men's  tears.  Gracious  Heaven  !  what  con- 
folation !  each  face  was  convulfed  with  forrow  for 
the  pad  ;  every  heart  fhivered  with  defpair  for 
the  future.  The  man,  who  and  who  alone,  united 
all  hearts,  was  dead  ;  dead,  at  the  moment  wrhen 
his  power  to  do  good  was  the  greateft,  and  when 


the  afpect  of  the  imminent  public  dangers  feemed 
more  than  ever  to  render  his  aid  indifpenfable, 
and  his  lofs  irreparable  :  irreparable  ;  for  two 
WASHINGTONS  come  not  in  one  age. 

A  grief  fo  thoughtful,  fo  profound,  fo  min- 
gled with  tendernefs  and  admiration,  fo  inter- 
woven with  our  national  felf-love,  fo  often  re- 
vived by  being  diffufed,  is  not  to  be  expre{fed. 
You  have  afligned  me  a  talk  that  is  impoffible. 

O  if  I  could  perform  it,  if  I  could  illuftrate 
his  principles  in  my  difcourfe  as  he  difplayed  them 
in  his  life,  if  I  could  paint  his  virtues  as  he  prac- 
tifed  them,  if  I  could  convert  the  fervid  enthufi- 
afm  of  my  heart  into  the  talent  to  tranfmit  his 
fame,  as  it  ought  to  pafs  to  pofterity  ;  1  mould 
be  the  fuccefsful  organ  of  your  will,  the  minifter 
of  his  virtues,  and  may  I  dare  to  fay,  the  humble 
partaker  of  his  immortal  glory.  Thefe  are  am- 
bitious, deceiving  hopes,  and  I  reject  them.  For 
it  is  perhaps  almoft  as  difficult,  at  once  with  judg- 
ment and  feeling,  to  praife  great  actions,  as  to 
perform  them.  A  lavifh  and  undiftinguifhing 
elogium  is  not  praife  ;  and  to  difcriminate  fuch 
excellent  qualities  as  were  characteriftic  and  pecu- 
liar to  him,  would  be  to  raife  a  name,  as  he  raifed 
it,  above  envy,  above  parallel,  perhaps,  for.  that 
very  reafon,  above  emulation. 

Such  a  portraying  of  character  however,  muft 
be  addreffed  to  the  understanding,  and  therefore, 
even  if  it  were  well  executed,  would  feem  to  be 
rather  an  analyfis  of  moral  principles,  than  the 
recital  of  a  hero's  exploits.    It  would  rather  con- 


ciliate  confidence  and  efteem,  than  kindle  enthufi- 
afm  and  admiration.  It  would  be  a  picture  of 
WASHINGTON,  and,  like  a  picture,  flat  as  the 
canvas  ;  like  a  ftatue,  cold  as  the  marble  on  which 
he  is  reprefented  ;  cold,  alas,  as  his  corpfe  in  the 
ground.  Ah,  how  unlike  the  man  late  warm 
with  living  virtues,  animated  by  the  foul  once 
glowing  with  patriotic  fires  !  He  is  gone  !  the  tomb 
hides  all,  that  the  world  could  fcarce  contain,  and 
that  once  was  WASHINGTON,  except  his  glory  ; 
that  is  the  rich  inheritance  of  his  country  ;  and 
his  example  ;  that  let  us  endeavor  by  delineating 
to  impart  to  mankind.  Virtue  will  place  it  in  her 
temple,  wifdom  in  her  treafury. 

Peace  then  to  your  forrows.  I  have  done 
with  them.  Deep  as  your  grief  is,  I  aim  not  to 
be  pathetic.  I  defire  lefs  to  give  utterance  to  the 
feelings  of  this  age,  than  to  the  judgment  of  the 
next.  Let  us  faithfully  reprefent  the  illuftrious 
dead,  as  hiftory  will  paint,  as  pofterity  will  behold 
him. 

With  whatever  fidelity  I  might  execute  this 
talk,  I  know  that  fome  would  prefer  a  picture 
drawn  to  the  imagination.  They  would  have  our 
WASHINGTON  reprefented  of  a  giant's  fize, 
and  in  the  character  of  a  hero  of  romance.  They 
who  love  to  wonder  better  than  to  reafon,  would 
not  be  fatisfied  with  the  contemplation  of  a  great 
example,  unlefs,  in  the  exhibition,  it  mould  be  fo 
diftorted  into  prodigy,  as  to  be  both  incredible 
and  ufelefs.  Others,  I  hope  but  few,  who  think 
meanly  of  human  nature,  will  deem  it  incredible. 


7 


that  even  WASHINGTON  mould  think  with  as 
much  dignity  and  elevation,  as  he  acted  ;  and 
they  will  grovel  in  vain  in  the  fearch  for  mean  and 
felfifli  motives,  that  could  incite  and  fuftain  him 
to  devote  his  life  to  his  country. 

Do  not  thefe  fuggeftions  found  in  your  ears 
like  a  profanation  of  virtue  ?  and,  while  I  pro- 
nounce them,  do  you  not  feel  a  thrill  of  indigna- 
tion at  your  hearts  ?  Forbear.  Time  never  fails 
to  bring  every  exalted  reputation  to  a  ftrict  fcru- 
tiny  :  the  world,  in  palling  the  judgment  that  is 
never  to  be  reverfed,  will  deny  all  partiality,  even 
to  the  name  of  WASHINGTON.  Let  it  be  de- 
nied :  for  its  juftice  will  confer  glory. 

Such  a  life  as  WASHINGTON'S  cannot  derive 
honor  from  the  circumftances  of  birth  and 
education,  though  it  throws  back  a  luftre  upon 
both.  With  an  inquifitive  mind,  that  always 
profited  by  the  lights  of  others,  and  was  uncloud- 
ed by  pailions  of  its  own,  he  acquired  a  maturity 
of  judgment,  rare  in  age,  unparalleled  in  youth. 
Perhaps  no  young  man  had  fo  early  laid  up  a  life's 
ftock  of  materials  for  folid  reflection,  or  fettled  fo 
foon  the  principles  and  habits  of  his  conduct. 
Grey  experience  liftened  to  his  counfels  with  re- 
fpect,  and  at  a  time  when  youth  is  almoft  privi- 
leged to  be  ram,  Virginia  committed  the  fafety  of 
her  frontier,  and  ultimately  the  fafety  of  Ameri- 
ca, not  merely  to  his  valor,  for  that  would  be 
fcarcely  praife  ;  but  to  his  prudence. 

It  is  not  in  Indian  wars  that  heroes  are  celebra- 
ted ;  but  it  is  there  they  are  formed.    No  enemy 


9 


can  be  more  formidable,  by  the  craft  of  his  am- 
bufhes,  the  fuddennefs  of  his  onfet,  or  the  ferocity 
of  his  vengeance.  The  foul  of  WASHINGTON 
was  thus  cxercifed  to  danger  ;  and  on  the  firft  trial, 
as  on  every  other,  it  appeared  firm  in  adverfity, 
cool  in  action,  undaunted,  felf-poffeffed.  His  fpirit, 
and  ftill  more  his  prudence,  on  the  occafion  of 
Braddock's  defeat,  difFufed  his  name  throughout 
America,  and  acrofs  the  Atlantic.  Even  then  his 
country  viewed  him  with  complacency,  as  her 
moft  hopeful  fon. 

At  the  peace  of  1763,  Great-Britain,  in  con- 
fequence  of  her  victories,  flood  in  a  pofition  to 
prefcribe  her  own  terms.  She  chofe,  perhaps,  bet- 
ter for  us  than  for  herfelf :  for  by  expelling  the 
French  from  Canada,  we  no  longer  feared  hoftile 
neighbors  ;  and  we  foon  found  juft  caufe  to  be 
afraid  of  our  protectors.  We  difcerned  even  then 
a  truth,  which  the  conduct  of  France  has  fince  fo 
ftrongly  confirmed,  that  there  is  nothing  which 
the  gratitude  of  weak  ftates  can  give,  that  will 
fatisfy  flrong  allies  for  their  aid,  but  authority. 
Nations  that  want  protectors,  will  have  matters. 
Our  fettlements,  no  longer  checked  by  enemies 
on  the  frontier,  rapidly  increafed  ;  and  it  was  dif- 
covered,  that  America  was  growing  to  a  fize  that 
could  defend  itfelf. 

In  this,  perhaps  unforefeen,  but  at  length  obvi- 
ous Hate  of  things,  the  Britifh  Government  con- 
ceived a  jealoufy  of  the  Colonies,  of  which,  and  of 
their  intended  meafures  of  precaution,  they  made 
no  fecret. 


9 


Thus  it  happened,  that  their  forefight  of  the 
evil  aggravated  its  fymptoms,  and  accelerated  its 
progrefs.  The  colonifts  perceived  that  they  could 
not  be  governed,  as  before,  by  affection  •  and  re- 
folved  that  they  would  not  be  governed  by  force. 
Nobly  refolved !  for  had  we  fubmitted  to  the  Brit- 
ifh  claims  of  right,  we  fhould  have  had,  if  any,  lefs 
than  our  ancient  liberty  ;  and  held  what  might 
have  been  left  by  a  worfe  tenure. 

Our  nation,  like  its  great  leader,  had  only  to 
take  counfel  from  its  courage.  When  WASH- 
INGTON heard  the  voice  of  his  country  in  diftrefs, 
his  obedience  was  prompt ;  and  though  his  kcri- 
fices  were  great,  they  coft  him  no  effort.  Nei- 
ther the  object  nor  the  limits  of  my  plan,  permit 
me  to  dilate  on  the  military  events  of  the  revolu- 
tionary war.  Our  hiftory  is  but  a  tranfcript  of 
his  claims  on  our  gratitude.  Our  hearts  bear  tes- 
timony, that  they  are  claims  not  to  be  fatisfied. 
When  overmatched  by  numbers ;  a  fugitive,  with 
a  little  band  of  faithful  foldiers ;  the  States  as 
much  exhaufled  as  difmayed  ;  he  explored  his  own 
undaunted  heart,  and  found  there  refources  to  re- 
trieve our  affairs.  We  have  feen  him  difplay  as 
much  valor  as  gives  fame  to  heroes,  and  as  con- 
fummate  prudence  as  enfures  fuccefs  to  valor  j 
fearlefs  of  dangers  that  were  perfonal  to  him  ;  hef- 
itating  and  cautious,  when  they  affected  his  coun- 
try ;  preferring  fame  before  fafety  or  repofe  ;  and 
duty,  before  fame. 

Rome  did  not  owe  more  to  Fabius,  than  Amer- 
ica to  WASHINGTON.    Our  nation  fliares  with 

B 


10 


him  the  Angular  glory  of  having  conduced  a  civil 
war  with  mildnefs,  and  a  revolution,  with  order. 

The  event  of  that  war  feemed  to  crown  the  fe- 
licity and  glory  both  of  America  and  its  Chief. 
Until  that  conteft,  a  great  part  of  the  civilized 
world  had  been  lurprifingly  ignorant  of  the  force 
and  character,  and  almoft  of  the  exiftence,  of  the 
Britilh  Colonies.  They  had  not  retained  what 
they  knew,  nor  felt  curiofity  to  know  the  ftate  of 
thirteen  wretched  fettlements,  which  vaft  woods 
inclofed,  and  ftill  vafter  woods  divided  from  each 
other.  They  did  not  view  the  colonifts  fo  much 
a  people,  as  a  race  of  fugitives,  whom  want,  and 
folitude,  and  intermixture  with  the  favages,  had 
made  barbarians.  Great-Britain,  they  faw,  was 
elate  with  her  victories  :  Europe  flood  in  awe  of 
her  power  :  her  arms  made  the  thrones  of  the  moll 
powerful  unfteady,  and  difturbed  the  tranquillity 
of  their  States,  with  an  agitation  more  ex^enfive 
than  an  earthquake.  As  the  giant  Enceladus  is 
fabled  to  lie  under  Etna,  and  to  ftiake  the  moun- 
tain when  he  turns  his  limbs,  her  hoftility  was 
felt  to  the  extremities  of  the  world.  It  reached 
to  both  the  Indies  ;  in  the  wilds  of  Africa,  it  ob- 
llructed  the  commerce  in  flaves  ;  the  whales,  find- 
ing, in  time  of  war,  a  refpite  from  their  purfuers, 
could  venture  to  fport  between  the  tropics,  and 
did  not  flee,  as  in  peace,  to  hide  beneath  the  ice- 
fields of  the  polar  circle. 

At  this  time,  while  Great-Britain  wielded  a 
force  not  inferior  to  that  of  the  Roman  empire 
under  Trajan9  fuddenly,  aftoniflied  Europe  beheld 


41 


a  feeble  people,  till  then  unknown,  ftand  forth, 
and  defy  this  giant  to  the  combat.    It  was  fo  un- 
equal, all  expected  it  would  be  fliort.    The  events 
of  that  war  were  fo  many  miracles,  that  attracted, 
as  much  perhaps  as  any  war  ever  did,  the  wonder 
of  mankind.    Our  final  fuccefs  exalted  their  ad- 
miration to  its  higheft  point :  they  allowed  to 
WASHINGTON  all  that  is  due  to  tranfcendent 
virtue,  and  to  the  Americans  more  than  is  due 
to  human  nature.    They  confidered  us  a  race  of 
WASHiNGTONS,and  admitted  that  nature  in  Amer- 
ica was  fruitful  only  in  prodigies.    Their  books 
and  their  travellers,  exaggerating  and  diftorting 
all  their  reprefentations,  aflifted  to  eftablifli  the 
opinion,  that  this  is  a  new  world,  with  a  new  or- 
der of  men  and  things  adapted  to  it ;  that  here 
we  practife  induftry,  amidft  the  abundance  that 
requires  none ;  that  we  have  morals  fo  refined, 
that  we  do  not  need  laws  ;  and  though  we  have 
them,  yet  we  ought  to  confider  their  execution 
as  an  infult  and  a  wrong  •,  that  we  have  virtue 
without  weaknefies,  fentiment  without  pafiions, 
and  liberty  without  factions.    Thefe  illufions,  in 
fpite  of  their  abfurdity,  and,  perhaps,  becaufe  they 
are  abfurd  enough  to  have  dominion  over  the 
imagination  only,  have  been  received  by  many  of 
the  malecontents  againft  the  governments  of  Eu- 
rope, and  induced  them  to  emigrate.    Such  illu- 
fions are  too  foothing  to  vanity,  to  be  entirely 
checked  in  their  currency  among  Americans. 

They  have  been  pernicious,  as  they  cherifli  falfe 
ideas  of  the  rights  of  men  and  the  duties  of  rulers* 


They  have  led  the  citizens  to  look  for  liberty, 
where  it  is  not  ;  and  to  confider  the  government, 
which  is  its  cattle,  as  its  prifon. 

WASHINGTON  retired  to  Mount  Vernon,  and 
the  eyes  of  the  world  followed  him.  He  left  his 
countrymen  to  their  fimplicity  and  their  paflions, 
and  their  glory  foon  departed.  Europe  began  to 
be  undeceived,  and  it  feemed  for  a  time,  as  if,  by 
the  acquifition  of  independenci,  our  citizens  were 
difappointed.  The  Confederation  was  then  the 
only  compact  made  "  to  form  a  perfect  union  of 
the  States,  to  eftablifli  juftice,  to  enfure  the  tran- 
quillity, and  provide  for  the  fecurity,  of  the  na- 
tion and  accordingly,  union  was  a  name  that 
ftill  commanded  reverence,  though  not  obedience. 
The  fyftem  called  juftice  was,  in  fome  of  the 
States,  iniquity  reduced  to  elementary  principles  ; 
and  the  public  tranquillity  was  fuch  a  portentous 
calm,  as  rings  in  deep  caverns  before  the  explofion 
of  an  earthquake.  Moft  of  the  States  then  were 
in  fact,  though  not  in  form,  unbalanced  democra- 
cies. Reafon,  it  is  true,  fpoke  audibly  in  their  con- 
ftitutions  ;  paffion  and  prejudice  louder  in  their 
laws.  It  is  to  the  honor  of  Maflachufetts,  that  it 
is  chargeable  with  little  deviation  from  principles. 
Its  adherence  to  them  was  one  of  the  caufes  of  a  dan- 
gerous rebellion.  It  was  fcarcely  poftible  that  fuch 
governments  mould  not  be  agitated  by  parties, 
and  that  prevailing  parties  mould  not  be  vindict- 
ive and  unjuft.  Accordingly,  in  fome  of  the 
States,  creditors  were  treated  as  outlaws  ;  bank- 
rupts were  armed  with  legal  authority  to  be  per* 


18 


fecutors  ;  and,  by  the  mock  of  all  confidence  and 
faith,  fociety  was  fhaken  to  its  foundations.  Lib- 
erty we  had  ;  but  we  dreaded  its  abufe  almoft  as 
much  as  its  lofs  ;  and  the  wife,  who  deplored  the 
one,  clearly  forefaw  the  other. 

The  States  were  alfo  becoming  formidable  to 
each  other.  Tribute,  under  the  name  of  impoft, 
was  for  years  levied  by  fome  of  the  commercial 
States  upon  their  neighbors.  Meafures  of  retalia- 
tion were  reforted  to,  and  mutual  recriminations 
had  begun  to  whet  the  refentments,  whofe  never 
failing  progrefs  among  ftates  is  more  injuftice, 
vengeance,  and  war. 

The  peace  of  America  hung  by  a  thread,  and 
factions  were  already  fharpening  their  weapons  to 
cut  it.  The  project  of  three  feparate  empires  in 
America  was  beginning  to  be  broached,  and  the 
progrefs  of  licentioufnefs  would  have  foon  ren- 
dered her  citizens  unfit  for  liberty  in  either  of 
them.  An  age  of  blood  and  rnifery  would  have 
punifhed  our  difunion  :  But  thefe  were  not  the 
confiderations  to  deter  ambition  from  its  purpofe, 
while  there  were  fo  many  circumftances  in  our 
political  lituation  to  favor  it. 

At  this  awful  crifis,  which  all  the  wife  fo  much 
dreaded  at  the  time,  yet  which  appears,  on  a  re- 
trofpect,  fo  much  more  dreadful  than  their  fears  ; 
fome  man  was  wanting,  who  poflefTed  a  command- 
ing power  over  the  popular  paflions,  but  over 
whom  thofe  paflions  had  no  power. — That  man 
was  WASHINGTON. 

His  name,  at  the  head  of  fuch  a  lift  of  worthies 


1& 


as  would  reflect  honor  on  any  country,  had  its 
proper  weight  with  all  the  enlightened,  and  with  al- 
moft  all  the  well-difpofed  among  the  lefs  informed 
citizens,  and,  blefled  be  God!  the  Conftitution 
was  adopted.  Yes,  to  the  eternal  honor  of  Amer- 
ica among  the  nations  of  the  earth,  it  was  adopt- 
ed, in  fpite  of  the  obftacles  which,  in  any  other 
country,  and  perhaps  in  any  other  age  of  this, 
would  have  been  infurmountable ;  in  fpite  of  the 
doubts  and  fears,  which  well  meaning  prejudice 
creates  for  itfclf,  and  which  party  fo  artfully  in- 
flames into  ftubbornnefs ;  in  fpite  of  the  vice,  which 
it  has  fubjected  to  reftraint,  and  which  is  therefore 
its  immortal  and  implacable  foe  ;  in  fpite  of  the 
oligarchies  in  fome  of  the  States,  from  whom  it 
fnatched  dominion  ;  it  was  adopted,  and  our 
country  enjoys  one  more  invaluable  chance  for  its 
union  and  happinefs  :  invaluable  I  if  the  retros- 
pect of  the  dangers  we  have  efcaped,  mail  fuf- 
ficiently  inculcate  the  principles  we  have  fo  tardi- 
ly eftablimed.  Perhaps  multitudes  are  not  to  be 
taught  by  their  fears  only,  without  fufFering  much 
to  deepen  the  impreflion  :  for  experience  bran- 
difhcs  in  her  fchool  a  whip  of  fcorpions,  and  teach- 
es nations  her  fummary  leffons  of  wifdom  by  the 
fears  and  wounds  of  their  adverfity. 

The  amendments  which  have  been  projected  in 
fome  of  the  States  fliew,  that  in  them  at  leaft, 
thefe  leffons  are  not  well  remembered.  In  a  con- 
federacy of  States,  fome  powerful,  others  weak, 
the  weaknefs  of  the  federal  union  will,  fooner  or 
later,  encourage,  and  will  not  reftrain,  the  ambition 


16 


and  injuftice  of  the  members.  The  weak  can  no 
otherwife  be  ftrong  or  fafe,  but  in  the  energy  of 
the  national  government.  It  is  this  defect, — which 
the  blind  jealoufy  of  the  weak  States  not  unfre- 
quently  contributes  to  prolong, — that  has  proved 
fatal  to  all  the  confederations  that  ever  exifted. 

Although  it  was  impoflible  that  fuch  merit  as 
WASHINGTON'S  mould  not  produce  envy,  it 
was  fcarcely  pofiible  that,  with  fuch  a  tranfcendent 
reputation,  he  mould  have  rivals.  Accordingly, 
he  was  unanimoufly  chofen  Prefident  of  the  Unit- 
ed States. 

As  a  general  and  a  patriot,  the  meafure  of  his 
glory  was  already  full :  there  was  no  fame  left  for 
him  to  excel  but  his  own  ;  and  even  that  talk, 
the  mightieft  of  all  his  labors,  his  civil  magiftracy 
has  accomplifhed. 

No  fooner  did  the  new  government  be^in  its 

o  o 

aufpicious  courfc,  than  order  feemed  to  arife  out  of 
confufion.  The  governments  of  Europe  had  feen 
the  old  Confederation  finking,  fqualid  and  pale, 
into  the  tomb,  when  they  beheld  the  new  Ameri- 
can Republic  rife  fuddenly  from  the  ground,  and, 
throwing  off  its  grave  cloaths,  exhibiting  the  ftat- 
ure  and  proportions  of  a  young  giant,  refrefhed  with 
fleep.  Commerce  and  induftry  awoke,  and  were 
cheerful  at  their  labors ;  for  credit  and  confidence 
awoke  with  them.  Every  where  was  the  appear- 
ance of  profperity ;  and  the  only  fear  was,  that  its 
progrefs  was  too  rapid,  to  confift  with  the  purity 
and  fimplicity  of  ancient  manners..  The  cares  and 
labors  of  the  Prefident  were  inceffant :  his  exhoi- 


16 


tations,  example,  and  authority,  were  employed  to 
excite  zeal  and  activity  for  the  public  fervice  :  able 
officers  were  felefted,  only  for  their  merits ;  and 
fome  of  them  remarkably  diftinguiftied  themfelves 
by  their  fuccefsful  management  of  the  public  bufi- 
nefs.  Government  was  adminiftered  with  fuch 
integrity,  without  myftery,  and  in  fo  profperous  a 
courfe,  that  it  feemed  to  be  wholly  employed  in 
acts  of  beneficence.  Though  it  has  made  many 
thouiand  malecontents,  it  has  never,  by  its  rigor 
or  injullice,  made  one  man  wretched. 

Such  was  the  ftate  of  public  affairs  :  and  did  it 
not  feem  perfectly  to  enfure  uninterrupted  harmony 
to  the  citizens  ?  did  they  not,  in  refpecl  to  their 
government  and  its  adminiflration,  pofTefs  their 
whole  heart's  defire  ?  They  had  feen  and  fuffered 
long  the  want  of  an  efficient  conftitution  :  they 
had  freely  ratified  it  :  they  faw  WASHINGTON, 
their  tried  friend,  the  father  of  his  country,  invert- 
ed with  its  powers.  They  knew  that  he  could 
not  exceed  or  betray  them,  without  forfeiting  his 
own  reputation.  Confider,  for  a  moment,  what  a 
reputation  it  was  :  Such  as  no  man  ever  before 
pofleffed  by  fo  clear  a  title,  and  in  fo  high  a  degree. 
His  fame  feemed  in  its  purity  to  exceed  even  its 
brightnefs  :  office  took  honor  from  his  accept- 
ance, but  conferred  none.  Ambition  flood  awed 
and  darkened  by  his  fhadow.  For  where,  through 
the  wide  earth,  was  the  man  fo  vain  as  to  difpute 
precedence  with  him ;  or  what  were  the  honors 
that  could  make  the  poffeffor  WASHINGTON'S 
fuperior  ?  Refined  and  complex  as  the  ideas  of 


n 


virtue  arc,  even  the  grofs  could  difcern  in  his  life 
the  infinite  fuperiority  of  her  rewards.  Mankind 
perceived  foine  change  in  their  idea*  of  greatnefs  : 
the  fplcndor  of  power,  and  even  of  the  name  of 
conqueror,  had  grown  dim  in  their  eyes.  They 
did  not  know  that  WASHINGTON  could  aug- 
ment his  fame ;  but  they  knew  and  felt,  that  the 
world's  wealth,  and  its  empire  too,  would  be  a 
bribe  far  beneath  his  acceptance. 

This  is  not  exaggeration  :  never  was  confidence 
in  a  man  and  a  chief  magiftrate  more  widely  dif- 
fused, or  more  folidly  eftablifhed. 

If  it  had  been  in  the  nature  of  man  that  we 
mould  enjoy  liberty,  without  the  agitations  of  par- 
ty, the  United  States  had  a  right,  under  thefe  cir- 
cumftances,  to  expect  it  :  but  it  was  impoflible. 
Where  there  is  no  liberty,  they  may  be  exempt 
from  party.  It  will  feem  ftrange,  but  it  fcarcely 
admits  a  doubt,  that  there  are  fewer  malecontents 
in  Turkey,  than  in  any  free  ftate  in  the  world. 
Where  the  people  have  no  power,  they  enter  into 
no  contefts,  and  are  not  anxious  to  know  how 
they  fhall  ufe  it.  The  fpirit  of  difcontent  becomes 
torpid  for  want  of  employment,  and  fighs  itfelf  to 
reft.  The  people  fleep  foundly  in  their  chains,  and 
do  not  even  dream  of  their  weight.  They  lofe 
their  turbulence  with  their  energy,  and  become  as 
traceable  as  any  other  animals  :  a  ftate  of  degrada- 
tion, in  which  they  extort  our  fcorn,  and  engage 
our  pity,  for  the  mifery  they  do  not  feel.  Yet 
that  heart  is  a  bafe  one,  and  fit  only  for  a  Have's 
bofom,  that  would  not  bleed  freely,  rather  than 

C 


48 


fubmit  to  fuch  a  condition  ;  for  liberty  with  all  its 
parties  and  agitations  is  more  defirable  than  11a- 
very,  Wh  o  would  not  prefer  the  republics  of  an- 
cient Greece,  where  liberty  once  fubfifted  in  its 
excefs,  its  delirium,  terrible  in  its  charms,  and  glif- 
tening  to  the  laft  with  the  blaze  of  the  very  fire 
that  confumed  it  ? 

I  do  not  know  that  I  ought,  but  I  am  fure  that 
I  do,  prefer  thofe  republics  to  the  dozing  flavery 
of  the  modern  Greece,  where  the  degraded  wretch- 
es have  fuffered  fcorn  till  they  merit  it,  where 
they  tread  on  claflic  ground,  on  the  afhes  of  he- 
roes and  patriots,  uncoiifcious  of  their  anceftry, 
ignorant  of  the  nature,  and  almoft  of  the  name  of 
liberty,  and  infenlible  even  to  the  paflion  for  it. 
Who,  on  this  contrail,  can  forbear  to  fay,  it  is 
the  modern  Greece  that  lies  buried,  that  fleeps 
forgotten  in  the  caves  of  Turkifh  darknefs  ?  It  is 
the  ancient  Greece  that  lives  in  remembrance,  that 
is  Hill  bright  with  glory,  llill  frefli  in  immortal 
youth.  They  are  unworthy  of  liberty,  who  en- 
tertain a  lefs  exalted  idea  of  its  excellence.  The 
misfortune  is,  that  thofe  who  profefs  to  be  its  moll 
paflionate  admirers  have,  generally,  the  leaft  com- 
prehenfion  of  its  hazards  and  impediments  :  they 
expect  that  an  enthufiaftic  admiration  of  its  na- 
ture will  reconcile  the  multitude  to  the  irkfome- 
nefs  of  its  reftraints.  Delulive  expectation  ! 
WASHINGTON  was  not  thus  deluded.  We 
have  his  folemn  warning  againft  the  often  fatal 
propenfities  of  liberty.     He  had  reflected,  that 


men  are  often  falfe  to  their  country  and  their 
honor,  falfe  to  duty  and  even  to  their  intcreft  ; 
but  multitudes  of  men  are  never  long  falfe  or 
deaf  to  their  paffions  ;  thefe  will  find  obftacles  in 
the  laws,  afTociates  in  party.  The  fellowftiips  thus 
formed  are  more  intimate,  and  impofe  commands 
more  imperious,  than  thofe  of  fociety. 

Thus  party  forms  a  ftate  within  the  ftate,  and 
is  animated  by  a  rivalfliip,  fear,  and  hatred,  of  its 
fuperior.  When  this  happens,  the  merits  of  the 
government  will  become  frefli  provocations  and 
offences  ;  for  they  are  the  merits  of  an  enemy. 
No  wonder  then,  that  as  foon  as  party  found  the 
virtue  and  glory  of  WASHINGTON  were  obfta- 
cles,  the  attempt  was  made,  by  calumny,  to  fur- 
mount  them  both.  For  this,  the  greateft  of  all 
his  trials,  we  know  that  he  was  prepared.  He 
knew  that  the  government  muft  pofTefs  fufheient 
ftrength  from  within  or  without,  or  fall  a  victim 
to  faction.  This  interior  ftrength  was  plainly  inade- 
quate to  its  defence,  unlefs  it  could  be  reinforced 
from  without  by  the  zeal  and  patriotifmof  the  cit- 
izens ;  and  this  latter  refource  was  certainly  as 
acceffible  to  Prefident  WASHINGTON,  as  to  any 
chief  magiftrate  that  ever  lived.  The  life  of  the 
federal  government,  he  confidered,  was  in  the 
breath  of  the  people's  noftrils  :  whenever  they 
mould  happen  to  be  fo  infatuated  or  inflamed  as 
to  abandon  its  defence,  its  end  muft  be  as  fpeedy, 
and  might  be  as  tragical,  as  a  conftitution  for 
France. 


20 


*  While  the  Prefident  was  thus  admimftering  the 
government,  in  fo  wife  and  juft  a  manner,  as  to  en- 
gage the  great  majority  of  the  enlightened  and  virtue 
ous  citizens  to  co-operate  with  him  for  its  fupport, 
and  while  he  indulged  the  hope  that  time  and  habit 
were  confirming  their  attachment,  the  French  revo- 
lution had  reached  that  point  in  its  progrefs,  when 
its  terrible  principles  began  to  agitate  all  civilized  na- 
tions. I  will  not,  on  this  occafion,  detain  you  to  ex- 
prefs,  though  my  thoughts  teem  with  it,  my  deep  ab- 
horrence of  that  revolution ;  its  defpotifm,  by  the 
mob  or  the  military,  from  the  nrft,  and  its  hypocrify 
of  morals  to  the  laft,  Scenes  have  paffed  there 
which  exceed  defcription,  and  which,  for  other  rea- 
fons,  I  will  not  attempt  to  defcribe ;  for  it  would  not 
be  pofiible,  even  at  this  diftance  of  time,  and  with 
the  fea  between  us  and  France,  to  go  through  with 
the  recital  of  them,  without  perceiving  horror  gath- 
er, like  a  froft,  about  the  heart,  and  almoft  ftop  its 
pulfe.  That  revolution  has  been  conjtant  in  noth- 
ing but  its  viciflitudes,  and  its  promifes ;  always  de- 
lufive  but  always  renewed,  to  eftablifh  philofophy  by 
crimes,  and  liberty  by  the  fword.  The  people  of 
France,  if  they  are  not  like  the  modern  Greeks,  find 
their  cap  of  liberty  is  a  foidier's  helmet :  and,  with  all 
their  imitation  of  dictators  and  confuls,  their  exacted 

NOTE. 

*  The  Government  of  Maflachufetts  has  manifefted  more  than  once, 
and  fo  lately  as  the  laft  year,  a  wife  difcernmeut  of  the  pernicious  ten- 
dency of  certain  ufurping  claims  by  States,  and  of  changes  propoi'cd  to. 
abolifh,  under  the  name  of  amending,  the  Conftkution. 

The  example  has  had  its  proper  weight  to  produce,  in  other  States, 
a  like  zealous  and  prompt  fupport  of  the  national  Government. 

Long  may  fuch  patriotic  zeal  continue,  and  ever  may  its  efforts  ob- 
tain a  like  fuccefs ! 


21 

„  ...  — .  


fimilitude  to  thefe  Roman  ornaments,  is  in  their 
chains.  The  nations  of  Europe  perceive  another  re- 
ferhblance,  in  their  all  conquering  ambition. 

But  it  is  only  the  influence  of  that  event  on  Amer- 
ica, ancj  on  the  meafures  of  the  Prefident,  that  be- 
longs to  my  fubjecl.  It  would  be  ingratefully  wrong 
to  his  character  to  be  filent  in  refpect  to  a  part  of  it, 
which  has  the  moil  fignally  illuftrated  his  virtues. 

The  genuine  character  of  that  revolution  is  not 
even  yet  fo  well  underftood  as  the  dictates  of  felf- 
prefervation  require  it  mould  be.  The  chief  duty 
and  care  of  all  governments  is  to  protect  the  rights 
of  property,  and  the  tranquillity  of  fociety.  The 
leaders  of  the  French  revolution,  from  the  begin- 
ning, excited  the  poor  againft  the  rich  :  this  has  made 
the  rich  poor,  but  it  will  never  make  the  poor  rich. 
On  the  contrary,  they  were  ufed  only  as  blind  inftru- 
ments  to  make  thofe  leaders  mailers,  firfb  of  the  ad- 
verfe  party,  and  then  of  the  ftate.  Thus  the  powers 
of  the  ftate  were  turned  round  into  a  direction  ex- 
actly contrary  to  the  proper  one,  not  to  preferve 
tranquillity  and  reftrain  violence,  but  to  excite  vio- 
lence by  the  lure  of  power,  and  plunder,  and  ven- 
geance. Thus  all  France  has  been,  and  ftill  is,  as 
much  the  prize  of  the  ruling  party  as  a  captured 
iliip,  and  if  any  right  or  porTeflion  has  efcaped  confif- 
cation,  there  is  none  that  has  not  been  liable  to  it. 

Thus  it  clearly  appears  that,  in  its  origin,  its  char- 
acter, and  its  means,  the  government  of  that  country 
is  revolutionary ;  that  is,  not  only  different  from, 
but  directly  contrary  to,  every  regular  and  well  or- 
dered fociety.    It  is  a  danger,  fimilar  in  its  kind, 


O  9 


and  at  leaft  equal  in  degree,  to  that,  with  which  an- 
cient Rome  menaced  her  enemies.  The  allies  of 
Rome  were  flaves  ;  and  it  coll  forne  hundred 
years  efforts  of  her  policy  and  arms,  to  make  her  en- 
emies her  allies.  Nations,  at  this  day,  can  truft  no 
better  to  treaties  ;  they  cannot  even  truft  to  arms, 
unlefs  they  are  ufed  with  a  fpirit  and  psrfeverance 
becoming  the  magnitude  of  their  danger.  For  the 
French  revolution  has  been,  from  the  fifft,  hoftile 
to  all  right  and  juftice,  to  all  peace  and  order  in  fo- 
ciety  ;  and,  therefore,  its  very  exiftence  has  been  a 
flate  of  warfare  againft  the  civilized  world,  and  moft 
of  all  againft  free  and  orderly  republics.  For  fuch 
are  never  without  factions,  ready  to  be  the  allies  of 
France,  and  to  aid  her  in  the  work  of  deftruction. 
Accordingly,  fcarcely  any  but  republics  have  they 
fubverted.  Such  governments,  by  mewing  in  prac- 
tice what  republican  liberty  w,  detect  French  impof- 
ture,  and  (hew  what  their  pretexts  are  not. 

To  fubvert  them,  therefore,  they  had,  befides  the 
facility  that  faction  affords,  the  double  excitement  of 
removing  a  reproach,  and  converting  their  greateft  ob- 
ftacles  into  their  molt  efficient  auxiliaries. 

Who  then,  on  careful  reflection,  will  befurprifed, 
that  the  French  and  their  partizans  inftantly  conceiv* 
ed  the  defire,  and  made  the  moft  powerful  attempts, 
to  revolutionize  the  American  government  ?  But  it. 
will  hereafter  feem  ftrange  that  their  exceffes  mould 
be  excufed,  as.  the  effects  of  a  ftruggle  for  liberty,  and 
that  fo  many  of  our  citizens  mould  be  flattered,  while 
they  were  infulted,  with  the  idea,  that  our  example 
was  copied,  and  our  principles  purfued.  Nothing 


was  ever  more  falfe,  or  more  fafcinating.  Our  lib- 
erty depends  on  our  education,  our  laws,  and  habits, 
to  which  even  prejudices  yield  ;  on  the  difperfion  of 
our  people  on  farms,  and  on  the  almoll  equal  diffu- 
fion  of  property ;  it  is  founded  on  morals  and  religion, 
whofe  authority  reigns  in  the  heart,  and  on  the  influ- 
ence all  thefe  produce  on  public  opinion  before 
that  opinion  governs  rulers.  Here  liberty  is  reftraint, 
there  it  is  violence  ;  here  it  is  mild  and  cheering,  like 
the  morning  fun  of  our  fummer,  brightening  the  hills, 
and  making  the  vallies  green  ;  there  it  is  like  the  fun, 
when  his  rays  dart  peltilence  on  the  fands  of  Africa. 
American  liberty  calms  and  retrains  the  licentious 
paffions,  like  an  angel  that  fays  to  the  winds  and 
troubled  feas  ;  be  (till.  But  how  has  French  licen- 
doufnefs  appeared  to  the  wretched  citizens  of  Swit- 
zerland and  Venice  ?  Do  not  their  haunted  imagina- 
tions, even  when  they  wake,  reprefent  her  as  a  mon- 
fter,  with  eyes  that  flam  wild  fire,  hands  that  hurl 
thunderbolts,  a  voice  that  makes  the  foundation  of 
the  hills  ?  She  Hands,  and  her  ambition  meafures  the 
earth  ;  Ihe  fpeaks,  and  an  epidemic  fury  feizes  the 
nations. 

Experience  is  loft  upon  us,  if  we  deny,  that  it 
had  feized  a  large  part  of  the  American  Nation.  It 
is  as  fober,  and  intelligent,  as  free,  and  as  worthy  to 
be  free,  as  any  in  the  world ;  yet,  like  all  other  peo- 
ple, we  have  paflions  and  prejudices,  and  they  had  re- 
ceived a  violent  impulfe,  which,  for  a  time,  mifled  us. 

Jacobinism  had  become  here,  as  in  France,  rather 
a  feci:  than  a  party  ;  infpiring  a  fanaticifm  that  was 
equally  intolerant  and  contagious.  The  delufion  was 


24 


general  enough  to  be  thought  the  voice  of  the  people, 
therefore  claiming  authority  without  proof ;  and  jeal- 
ous enough  to  exact  acquiefcence  without  a  murmur 
of  contradiction.  Some  progrefs  was  made  in  train- 
ing multitudes  to  be  vindictive  and  ferocious.  To 
them  nothing  feemed  amiable,  but  the  revolutionary 
juftice  of  Paris  \  nothing  terrible,  but  the  government 
and  juftice  of  America.  The  very  name  of  Patriots 
was  claimed  and  applied  in  proportion  as  the  citizens 
had  alienated  their  hearts  from  America,  and  transfer- 
red their  affections  to  their  foreign  corrupter.  Party 
difcerned  its  intimate  connexion  of  intereft  with 
France,  and  confummated  its  profligacy  by  yielding 
to  foreign  influence. 

The  views  of  thefe  allies  required  that  this  country 
mould  engage  in  war  with  Great-Britain.  Nothing 
lefs  would  give  to  France  all  the  means  of  annoying 
this  dreaded  rival  :  Nothing  lefs  would  enfure  the 
fubjection  of  America,  as  a  fatellite  to  the  ambition  of 
France  :  Nothing  elfe  could  make  a  revolution  here 
perfectly  inevitable. 

For  this  end,  the  minds  of  the  citizens  were  art- 
fully inflamed,  and  the  moment  was  watched,  and 
impatiently  waited  for,  when  their  long  heated  paf- 
fions  mould  be  in  fufion,  to  pour  them  forth,  like 
the  lava  of  a  volcano,  to  blacken  and  confume  the 
peace  and  government  of  our  country. 

The  fyftematic  operations  of  a  faction  under  for- 
eign influence  had  begun  to  appear,  and  were  fuccef- 
iivcly  purfued,  in  a  manner  too  deeply  alarming  to 
be  foon  forgotten.  Who  of  us  does  not  remember 
this  worfl  of  evils  in  this  worft  of  ways  ?  Shame 


2S 


would  forget,  if  it  could,  that,  in  one  of  the  States, 
amendments  were  propofed  to  break  dow  n  the  Fed- 
eral Senate,  which,  as  in  the  State  Governments,  is 
a  great  bulwark  of  the  public  order.  To  break  down 
another,  an  extravagant  judiciary  power  was  ciaimed 
for  States.  In  another  State  a  rebellion  was  fomented 
by  the  agent  of  France  :  And  who,  without  frefh  in- 
dignation, can  remember,  that  the  powers  of  Gov- 
ernment were  openly  ufurped  ;  troops  levied,  and 
mips  fitted  out  to  fight  for  her  ?  Nor  can  any  true 
friend  to  our  Government  confider  without  dread, 
that,  foon  afterwards,  the  treaty-  making  power  was 
boldly  challenged  for  a  branch  of  the  government, 
from  which  the  conftitution  has  wifely  withholden  it. 

I  am  oppretled,  and  know  not  how  to  proceed 
with  my  fubieci — WASHINGTON,  bieffed  be 
God  !  who  endued  him  with  wifdoni  and  clothed 
him  with  power— WASHINGTON  ilfued  his  Proc- 
lamation of  Neutrality,  and,  at  an  early  period,  ar- 
retted the  intrigues  of  France  and  the  paffions  of  his 
countrvmen,  on  the  very  edge  of  the  precipice  of  war 
and  revolution. 

This  act  of  firrnnefs,  at  the  hazard  of  his 
reputation  and  peace,  entitles  him  to  the  name  of 
the  firft  of  patriots.  Time  was  gained  for  the  citi- 
zens'to  recover  their  virtue  and  good  fenfe,  and  they 
foen  recovered  them.  The  criiis  was  palfed,  and 
America  was  faved. 

You  and  I,  moil  refpe&ed  fellow  citizens,  mould 
be  fooner  tired  than  fatisfied  in  recounting  the  partic- 
ulars of  this  illufrrious  man's  life. 

D 


26 


How  great  he  appeared,  while  he  adminiftered 
the  Government,  how  much  greater  when  he  retir- 
ed from  it,  how  he  accepted  the  chief  military  com- 
mand under  his  wife  and  upright  fuccefibr,  how  his 
life  was  unfpctted  like  his  fame,  and  how  his  death 
was  worthy  of  his  life,  are  fo  many  diftinct  fubje&s 
of  inftruction,  and  each  of  them  fingly  more  than 
enough  for  an  elogium.  I  leave  the  tafk  however 
to  hiftory  and  to  pofterity  ;  they  will  be  faithful  to  it. 

It  is  not  impoflible,  that  fome  will  affect  to  con- 
fider  the  honors  paid  to  this  great  patriot  by  the  na- 
tion, as  excefTive,  idolatrous,  and  degrading  to  free- 
men, who  are  all  equal.  I  anfwer,  that  refufing  to 
virtue  its  legitimate  honors  would  not  prevent  their 
being  lavimed,  in  future,  on  any  worthlefs  and  am- 
bitious favorite.  If  this  day's  example  mould  have 
its  natural  effect,  it  will  be  falutary.  Let  fuch  honors 
be  fo  conferred  only  when,  in  future,  they  fhall  be 
fo  merited  :  Then  the  public  fentiment  will  not  be 
milled,  nor  the  principles  of  a  jufl  equality  corrupted. 
The  beft  evidence  of  reputation  is  a  man's  whole 
life.  We  have  now,  alas !  all  WASHINGTON'S 
before  us.  There  has  fcarcely  appeared  a  really  great 
man,  whofe  character  has  been  more  admired  in  his 
life  time,  or  lefs  correctly  understood  by  his  admirers, 
When  it  is  comprehended,  it  is  no  eafy  tafk  to  de- 
lineate its  excellencies  in  fuch  a  manner,  as  to  give 
to  the  portrait  both  interefl:  and  refemblance.  For 
it  requires  thought  and  ftudy  to  underftand  the  true 
ground  of  the  fuperiority  of  his  character  over  many 
others,  whom  he  refembled  in  the  principles  of  ac- 
tion, and  even  in  the  manner  of  afting.    But  per- 


2/ 


haps  he  excels  all  the  great  men  that  ever  lived,  hi 
the  fteadinefs  of  his  adherence  to  his  maxims  of  life, 
and  in  the  uniformity  of  all  his  conduct  to  the  fame 
maxims.    Thefe  maxims,  though  wife,  were  yet  not 
fo  remarkable  for  their  wifdom,  as  for  their  authority 
over  his  life  :  For  if  there  were  any  errors  in  his 
judgment,  (and  he  difcovered  as  few  as  any  man) 
we  know  of  no  blemifhes  in  his  virtue.    He  was  the 
patriot  without  reproach  :  He  loved  his  country 
well  enough  to  hold  his  fuccefs  in  ferving  it  an  ample 
recompenfe.     Thus  far  felf-love  and  love  of  country 
coincided  :  But  when  his  country  needed  facrifices, 
that  no  ether  man  could,  or  perhaps  would  be  willing 
to  make,  he  did  not  even  hefitatc.    This  was  virtue 
in  its  moft  exalted  character.    More  than  once  he 
put  his  fame  at  hazard,  when  he  had  reafon  to  think 
it  would  be  facrifked,  at  leafl  in  this  age.    Two  in- 
flances  cannot  be  denied  :  When  the  army  was  dif- 
banded  ;  and  again,  when  he  flood,  like  Leonidas 
at  the  pafs  of  Thermopylae,  to  defend  our  indepen- 
dence againft  France. 

It  is  indeed  almoft  as  difficult  to  draw  his  charac- 
ter, as  the  portrait  of  Virtue.  The  reafon s  are  fimi- 
lar.  Our  ideas  of  moral  excellence  are  obfeure,  be- 
caufe  they  are  complex,  and  we  are  obliged  to  refort 
to  illuftrations.  WASHINGTON'S  example  is  the 
happieft  to  {hew  what  virtue  is  ;  and  to  delineate  his 
character,  we  naturally  expatiate  on  the  beauty  of 
virtue  :  Much  muft  be  felt,  and  much  imagined. 
His  pre-eminence  is  not  fo  much  to  be  feen  in  the  dif- 
play  of  any  one  virtue,  as  in  the  pofferTion  of  them 
all,  and  in  the  practice  of  the  moft  difficult.  Here- 


28 


after  therefore  his  character  muft  be  ftudied  before, 
it  will  be  (hiking  ;  and  then  it  will  be  admitted  as  ' a 
model ;  a  precious  one  to  a  free  Republic  1 

It  is  no  lefs  difficult  to  fpeak  of  his  talents.  They 
were  adapted  to  lead,  without  dazzling  mankind  ; 
and  to  draw  forth  and  employ  the  talents  of  others, 
without  being  milled  by  them.    In  this  he  was  cer- 
tainly fuperior,  that  he  neither  miftook  nor  mifap- 
plied  his  own.    His  great  modefty  and  referve  would 
have  concealed  them,  if  great  occafions  had  not  cal- 
led them  forth  ;  and  then,  as  he  never  fpoke  from 
the  affectation  to  mine,  nor  acted  from  any  finiftet 
motives,  it  is  from  their  effects  only  that  we  are  to 
judge  of  their  greatnefs  and  extent.    In  public  trulls, 
where  men,  acting  confpicuoufly,  are  cautious,  and 
in  thofe  private  concerns,  where  few  conceal  or  re- 
fill their  weakneffes,  WASHINGTON  was  uniformly 
great ;  puriuing  right  conduct  from  right  maxims. 
His  talents  were  fuch,  as  aflift  a  found  judgment,  and 
ripen  with  it.    His  prudence  was  confummate,  and 
feemed  to  take  the  direction  of  his  powers  and  paf- 
fions  ;  for,  as  a  Soldier,  he  was  more  folicitious  to 
avoid  miftakes  that  might  be  fatal,  than  to  perform 
exploits  that  are  brilliant  ;  and  as  a  Statefman,  to 
adhere  to  jufb  principles,  however  old,  than  to  pur- 
ine novelties  ;  and  therefore,  in  both  characters,  his 
qualities  were  Angularly  adapted  to  the  intereft,  and 
were  tried  in  the  greateit  perils,  of  the  country.  His 
habits  of  inquiry  were  fo  far  remarkable,  that  he  was 
never  fatisfied  with  invefligating,  nor  defified  from 
it,  fo  long  as  he  had  iefs  than  all  the  light  that  he 


could  obtain  upon  a  fubject  ;  and  then  he  made  his 
decilion  without  bias. 

This  command  over  the  partialities  that  fo  gene.. 
ly^ftop  men  fhort,  or  turn  them  afide,  in  their  pur- 
fuit  of  truth,  is  one  of  the  chief  caufes  of  his  unvaried 
courfe  of  right  conduct  in  fo  many  difficult  fcenesj 
where  every  human  actor  muft  be  prefumed  to  err. 

If  he  had  ftrong  paffions,  he  had  learned  to  fub- 
due  them,  and  to  be  moderate  and  mild.  If  he  had 
weakneffes  he  concealed  them,  which  is  rare,  and  ex- 
cluded them  from  the  government  of  his  temper  and 
conducl,  which  is  frill  more  rare.  If  he  loved  fame, 
he  never  made  improper  compliances  for  what  is 
called  popularity.  The  fame  he  enjoyed  is  of  the 
kind  that  will  laft  forever  ;  yet  it  was  rather  the  ef- 
fect, than  the  motive,  of  his  conduct.  Some  future 
Plutarch  will  fcarch  for  a  parallel  to  his  character. 
Epaminondas  is  perhaps  the  brighter!  name  of  all 
antiquity.  Our  WASHINGTON  refembled  him 
in  the  purity  and  ardor  of  his  patriotifm  ;  and  like 
him,  he  firit  exalted  the  glory  of  his  country.  There, 
it  is  to  be  hoped,  the  parallel  ends  :  For  Thebes  fell 
with  Epaminondas.  But  fuch  comparifons  cannot 
be  purfued  far,  without  departing  from  the  fimili- 
tude„  For  we  (hall  find  it  as  difficult  to  compare 
great  men  as  great  rivers.  Some  we  admire  for  the 
length  and  rapidity  of  their  current,  and  the  gran- 
deur of  their  cataracts  :  ethers,  for  the  majeftic  fi- 
lence  and  fullnefs  of  their  ftreams  :  We  cannot 
bring  them  together  to  meafure  the  difference  of 
their  waters.  The  unambitious  life  of  WASHING- 
TON, declining  fame  yet  courted  by  it,  feemed,  like 


SO 


the  Ohio,  to  choofe  its  long  way  through  folitudes, 
diffufing  fertility  ;  or  like  his  own  Potowmac,  widen- 
ing and  deepening  his  channel,  as  he  approaches  the 
fea,  and  difplaying  moft  the  ufefulnefs  and  ferenity 
of  his  greatnefs  towards  the  end  of  his  courfe.  Such 
a  citizen  would  do  honor  to  any  country.  The 
conftant  veneration  and  affection  of  his  country  will 
mew,  that  it  was  worthy  of  fuch  a  citizen. 

However  his  military  fame  may  excite  the  won- 
der of  mankind,  it  is  chiefly  by  his  civil  magiftracy, 
that  his  example  will  inftruct  them.  Great  Generals 
have  arifen  in  all  ages  of  the  world,  and  perhaps  moft 
in  thofe  of  defpotifm  and  darknefs.  In  times  of  vio- 
lence and  convulfion,  they  rife,  by  the  force  of  the 
whirlwind,  high  enough  to  ride  in  it,  and  direct  the 
ftorm.  Like  meteors,  they  glare  on  the  black  clouds 
with  a  fplendor,  that,  while  it  dazzles  and  terrifies, 
makes  nothing  vifible  but  the  darknefs.  The  fame 
of  heroes  is  indeed  growing  vulgar  :  They  multiply 
in  every  long  war  :  They  (land  in  hiflory,  and  thick- 
en in  their  ranks,  almofl  as  undiflinguiflied  as  their 
own  foldiers. 

But  fuch  aChief-Magiftrate  as  WASHINGTON, 
appears  like  the  pole  ftar  in  a  clear  fky,  to  direct  the 
fkilful  ftatefman.  His  prefidency  will  form  an  epoch, 
and  be  diftimmifhed  as  the  ao;e  of  WASHINGTON. 

o  o 

Already  it  afTumes  its  high  place  in  the  political  re- 
gion. Like  the  milky  way,  it  whitens  along  its  al- 
lotted portion  of  the  hemifphere.  The  lateft  gene- 
rations of  men  will  furvey,  through  the  telefcope  of 
hiftory,  the  fpace  where  fo  many  virtues  blend  their 
rays3  and  delight  to  feparate  them  into  groups  and 


31 

* .  -    a    .  — 


diflincl:  virtues.  As  the  bell  illuftration  of  them,  the 
living  monument,  to  which  the  nrfl  of  Patriots  would 
have  chofen  to  confign  his  fame,  it  is  my  earneft 
prayer  to  heaven,  that  our  country  may  fubfift,  even 
to  that  late  day,  in  the  plenitude  of  its  liberty  and 
happinefs,  and  mingle  its  mild  glory  with  WASH- 
INGTON'S. 


r\U  £  ':'  ,*  I  m ft  C  U  2~ 


